Spring 2016 by Michigan Veterinary Medical Association

m i c h i g a n v e t e r i n a r y m e d i c a l a s s o c i at i o n

MEET MVMA’S NEW PRESIDENT

Dr. Kevin Stachowiak elcome to your 2016 MVMA! As a companion animal veterinarian in a small town, I have been amazed at the connections I’ve made through the years. My experience has shown me how we are all connected to each other as a relatively small community of veterinary professionals. With Michigan’s population at nearly 9.9 million people, only about 2,500 of us are veterinarians. Although in some areas it may seem as though there is competition on nearly every corner, we need to realize that we are

W in this issue . . . 3

Do You Understand the Veterinary Feed Directive?

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MVMA’s New Online CE Portal Non-Surgical Solution to Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in a Dalmatian

8 10 12

2016 MVC

14 16 18

A Tale of Two Ferrets

MVMA Great Lakes Veterinary Conference

What to Do When a Client Fails to Pay or Files for Bankruptcy

21 25

Legislative Update

all working together for a common goal: to make the world a better place by improving human and animal health. Therefore, we are not competing with other veterinarians for business. We are working cooperatively for improvement of “One Health”—the integrative eﬀort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals, and the environment. It is my duty and my privilege to serve as your President during this exciting year, giving our profession One Voice to reach out to others. During 2016, a primary focus will be on the importance of Continuing Medical Education (CME). We live in a digital world with endless continued on page 2 .

Miracle of Life Exhibit Don’t Rush It: Poor Hires Cost Big Time

How to Work with Millennials EMV Is the Future . . . and the Future Is Here Now!

Don’t Forget to File Your Annual Substance Inventory back cove r

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

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. “Dr. Stachowiak,” from front cover Professional excellence. Compassionate care. 2144 Commons Pkwy., Okemos, MI 48864-3986 tel (517) 347-4710 · fax (517) 347-4666 email mvma@michvma.org web www.michvma.org facebook www.facebook.com/ilovemyvet twitter www.twitter.com/michiganvma youtube www.youtube.com/michiganvma pinterest www.pinterest.com/michvma instagram www.instagram.com/welovemivets Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December. Deadlines are the ﬁrst of the preceding month. editors Karlene B. Belyea, MBA

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Sheri Fandel

2016 mvma officers & directors officers Dr. Kevin Stachowiak, President Dr. Bruce Cozzens, President-Elect Dr. Lori Penman, 1st Vice President Dr. Mike Thome, 2nd Vice President Dr. Julie Cappel, Immediate Past President Dr. Kathleen Smiler, AVMA Delegate Dr. Stephen Steep, AVMA Alternate Delegate Karlene Belyea, MBA, Chief Executive Officer directors representing districts Dr. Joyce Balnaves, (1) Southern Dr. Kristin Knirk, (2 & 3) Michiana & Southwestern Dr. Melissa Owings, (4) Jackson Dr. Lauren Gnagey, (5 & 9) Washtenaw & Livingston Dr. Christian Ast, (6 & 8) Wayne & Oakland Dr. Julie Sherman (7) Macomb Dr. Jamie Snow, (10) Mid-State Dr. Chad Ackerman, (11) Western Dr. Kurt Dunckel, (12) Saginaw Dr. Tom Michalek, (13) Thumb Dr. Anne Shuff, (14) Northeastern Dr. Marcia Izo, (15) Northern directors representing associations Dr. Jeff Bunn, MI Equine Practitioners Dr. Steven Bailey, Southeastern Michigan VMA at-large directors Dr. Erin Howard, Food Animal Dean John Baker, MSU CVM Dr. Claire Hankenson, Lab Animal Medicine layout/design Charlie Sharp/Sharp Des!gns, Lansing, MI printing & mailing BRD Printing, Lansing, MI ▪ The Michigan Veterinary Medical Association represents the veterinary profession in Michigan, advances the knowledge and standards of its membership, and promotes the science, practice, and value of veterinary medicine for the benefit of animal and human health.

information at our fingertips. If we want to remain one of the most trusted professions in the world, we need to maintain our education as technology progresses in order to be better informed on veterinary issues than the public. One important way we can secure our professional integrity is through mandating CME. After years of work, we are much closer to Michigan approving a bill that would require CME for re-licensure of veterinarians and veterinary technicians. As exciting as this change is, if you are like me you probably aren’t thrilled with the need to track your CME. That’s where we, as your MVMA, are happy to help. Our new online CE portal can track your CME for you. Just log on to our website www.michvma.org and find our “Continuing Education” tab at the top, then scroll down to the bottom of the list and click on “WCEA Online CE Portal.” This Portal offers free access to MVMA members and can track your CME, as well as offering over 550 courses for free. If you like digital technology, this is for you. If you are more traditional and prefer in-person conferences, we would love to see you at our newly revamped Great Lakes Veterinary Conference at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island this year July 17–19, 2016. Since I first attended, this continues to be one of my favorite conferences. Your MVMA also recognizes the burden that student debt places on current students, new graduates, and employers. We have donated to and are actively working with the MSU Economic Summit that will be held in East Lansing later this year. This summit is looking for meaningful and lasting ways of not only addressing, but also resolving this difficult burden. The increasing ratio of student debt-to-starting-salaries needs to be reversed. We can and will continue to help. Financial stress can be a trigger for emotional stress as well. Although we are a part of the greatest profession on earth, it isn’t without its difficulties. Veterinarians and our employees are faced with life and death decisions and the sadness that comes with losing a loved one. For these and many other reasons, our profession has a much higher than anticipated rate of suicide and other health issues. Your MVMA recognizes this tragedy and is here to help. We now have a Wellness Task Force, chaired by Past President Dr. Therese Burns, creating new resources and working to help our members in need. I am looking forward to an exciting year with a lot to accomplish. I would like to thank our Immediate Past President, Dr. Julie Cappel, our Lobbyist, Mr. George Carr, our MVMA Political Action Committee and their donors, and current State Representative Dr. Hank Vaupel for their tireless work in getting us to where we are today. We are also fortunate to have such a tremendous staff team who garners national respect with Ms. Karlene Belyea, Ms. Sheri Fandel, Ms. Kara Henrys, and Ms. Jan Hodge. Together, we will develop a safe and healthy Michigan for animals, veterinarians and the public through a progressive, responsive, trusted, and unified association. I encourage you to strengthen our message by donating to VET-PAC. VET-PAC has worked cooperatively with our Legislative Advisory Committee and has been very successful in preventing burdensome bills from becoming law, as well as protecting the veterinary practice act. Most importantly, I would like to thank you for your support. I will work diligently to serve you as your President, being our One Voice promoting excellence in veterinary medicine and advancing animal well-being and public health.

s a veterinarian, you are likely familiar with the Food and Drug Administration’s role in regulating drugs used in both humans and animals. As a part of their responsibility, the FDA has an overall directive to ensure the judicious use of antibiotics which are medically important to humans. In line with this directive, the FDA recently expanded the list of feed-grade antibiotics classiﬁed as Veterinary Feed Directive drugs. Historically, a majority of feed-grade antibiotics used in or on animal feeds have been available to producers over-the-counter. However, the current expansion is moving all human medically important feed-grade

veterinarian’s responsibility to assess the validity of the VCPR before writing the VFD order. According to the FDA, a VFD order is “a written (non-verbal) statement issued by a licensed veterinarian in the course of the veterinarian’s professional practice authorizing the use of a VFD drug or combination VFD drug in or on an animal feed. Some important things to note about VFD orders are: n n

A VFD order can only be written for six months. The expiration date is the last date the VFD feed can be given to an animal.

STATE VETERINARIAN’S BULLETIN

Do You Understand the Veterinary Feed Directive? antibiotics to the VFD drug process by January 1, 2017. In addition, the FDA has previously allowed antibiotics to have label claims for therapeutic (prevention, control, treatment) reasons, growth promotant and feed efficiency. As a part of judicious use strategy, the FDA has aligned with drug sponsors to voluntarily revise label claims, removing growth promotant and feed efficiency. Since VFD products cannot be used extra-label, the removal of label claims will discontinue their use for non-therapeutic purposes. So far, only a small number of antibiotics (tilmicosin, florfenicol, and avilamycin) have been restricted in feed-grade use under a VFD. These products are used in the swine and aquaculture industry. Because of the previously limited impact on other species, many veterinarians who have had little experience with the VFD process will now have to familiarize themselves with it in order to provide their clients with these essential drugs. Being familiar with the VFD process is going to become especially important for veterinarians in rural areas with mixed practices or companion animal practice as this may become a frequent request. With more products requiring veterinary directives and less feed-grade antibiotics available through retail outlets, we expect more animal owners will seek veterinarian guidance either for a VFD, or other products to use in their place. Animal owners are being advised to establish a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship with their VFD issuing veterinarian prior to January 1, 2017. It is the

A separate VFD order needs to be written for each individual drug or drug combination for each specific group of animals. At this time there is no official VFD order, so formatting may differ as long as it meets the minimum amount of information required by the FDA. Veterinarians are primarily responsible for distributing copies of the VFD order to the producer and retailer/mill and maintaining the original copy in their records for a minimum of two years. A veterinarian must be licensed in the same state as the receiving client.

A website resource has been created by MDARD to help veterinarians and other stakeholders receive the most up-to-date information, www.michigan.gov/vfd. Another resource for information or consultation is faculty with Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, (517) 355-9593: n n

Drs. Dan Grooms and Ron Erskine, cattle Dr. Madonna Benjamin, gemus@msu.edu, (517) 6148875, swine Dr. Judy Martenuik, small ruminants

Please do your part to understand the VFD. You play a vital role in treating animals and protecting food safety. the michigan ve terinarian • spring 2016

MVMA’s New Online CE Portal ith mandatory continuing medical education (CME) on the horizon, MVMA recently launched our new Continuing Education (CE) portal, available exclusively to MVMA members. On our portal, there are almost 1,000 courses you can choose from, with over 500 that are completely free. The portal was developed in conjunction with the World CE Alliance and the World Veterinary Association. When Michigan House Bill 4408 on mandatory CME passes, veterinarians will be required to obtain 45 hours of CE every three years and veterinary technicians will be required to obtain 15 hours in three years. Our CE portal is an easy and inexpensive way to obtain those credits. In addition, our portal will track your CE, even from external sources, and you can enter requirements for licenses you hold in other states so that it will track your compliance with those laws as well. If you have not already created an account and would like to take advantage of this new member beneﬁt, you can access the portal by logging in with your MVMA login information at http://www.michvma. org/?page=WCEAOnlineCEPortal. For assistance, please contact us at mvma@michvma.org.

Take Full Advantage of Our Social Media! Crank up your clinic’s social media! Share, retweet, or repost any content the MVMA posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or on www.michvma.org on your clinic’s social media! All information shared on these sites is for our members to help in sharing news and can also be shared with clients. If you have not done so already, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ilovemyvet and follow us on Twitter @MichiganVMA and Instagram www.instagram.com/ welovemivets. By following the MVMA through these outlets, you will be able to stay current on happenings in Michigan and on the national veterinary medical scene.

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CASE STUDY

Non-Surgical Solution to Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in a Dalmatian Joshua Gehrke, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) 6

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History and Diagnosis Dewey, an 8-month-old intact male Dalmatian, presented to the MSU Veterinary Medical Center’s Emergency Service after three days of lethargy and progressive hind-limb stiﬀness and pain. Previously, Dewey’s neighbors had sprayed pesticides, and when Dewey was playing outside, his owners saw him take some of the sprayed plants from their yard in his mouth; however, they did not believe he ingested them. The next afternoon, Dewey became lethargic and his health continued to deteriorate through the night. He began shaking and his owners recorded a temperature of 104.4°f.

Dewey poses with his Rehabilitation and Neurology teams. left to right: Dr. Sarah Shull; Becky Polzin, LVT; Naomi Wells, Veterinary Assistant; and Dr. Joshua Gehrke

His owners took Dewey to their veterinarian, who performed a CBC and biochemistry proﬁle, which revealed a leukocytosis. Dewey was placed on cephalexin and given an injection of penicillin. While the owners initially noted improvement, they decided to seek a second opinion the next day. A second veterinarian performed radiographs that were unremarkable and added sucralfate, tramadol, and carprofen to Dewey’s medication regimen. But the following day, Dewey’s owners discontinued this course of treatment.

At this point, Dewey was mobile, but experiencing increased pain and stiﬀness. His owners noticed that Dewey’s bowel movement was mucoid and greasy. That morning, Dewey was noted to have progressive weakness of the hind limbs. After he was administered a morphine injection and given a dose of baby aspirin, his owners brought him to the MSU Veterinary Medical Center. Upon presentation to the Emergency Service, clinicians performed a physical examination, where they noted Dewey to be in sternal recumbency with a tense abdomen, the inability to stand without assistance, and a kyphotic posture. A thorough neurologic examination was performed by Dr. Joshua Gehrke of the Neurology Service, which revealed that Dewey’s symptoms had progressed rapidly from initial presentation. Dewey was now noted to be tetraplegic and had a decreased withdrawal reﬂex in the right thoracic limb. These neurologic signs were consistent with a caudal cervical lesion localizing to the C6-T2 spinal cord segments. Given the degree and progressive neurologic signs, an emergency MRI was performed. The MRI revealed large hematoma thought to be arising from the ventral spinal artery and the dura mater at the level of the seventh cervical vertebrae. The hematoma was so all-encompassing that it was noted to be causing compression from outside the spinal cord. After some thought, the owners suspected the injury to be secondary to a possible traumatic event, as Dewey has been renowned for his intense Frisbee activity. It was hypothesized that the artery and dura mater ruptured during one of Dewey’s recent Frisbee encounters, thus causing Dewey’s clinical signs and pain.

Treatment and Outcome Surgical intervention was discussed, but Dr. Gehrke decided not to pursue extensive spinal surgery. Given the degree and extensive nature of the hematoma,

removal could potentially cause permanent paralysis. It was also possible that once the old hematoma was removed from the spinal cord, the neurology team may not be able to control new arterial hemorrhaging, given the limited visual surgical field. Dr. Gehrke decided to place Dewey in a custom-made external coaptation or “cervical splint.” The device was made in-hospital by the biomedical engineering staff. It was placed around Dewey’s neck and thorax to immobilize his spine and provide stability and some pain relief during the healing process. While in the hospital, Dewey began to slowly improve neurologically. Five days later, Dr. Gehrke determined that Dewey would be able to continue his care at home with careful monitoring. The Veterinary Medical Center provided Dewey’s owners with steps for at-home care and monitoring that included mobility assistance, bladder expression, physical therapy, hygiene, feeding, and the administration of pain medications. One week later, Dewey returned to the Neurology Service for a check-up and bandage change. Dewey’s thoracic and pelvic limb joints showed improvement in flexing and extending with passive range of motion and massage. He also was able to support his own weight during the bandage change. Dr. Gehrke noted Dewey’s excellent progress and added weekly rehabilitation through the Veterinary Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Service to aid in his recovery.

Comments Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) can have devastating eﬀects on dogs, including paralysis and incontinence. Dewey’s condition was complicated, and once diagnosed, Dewey’s prognosis was guarded. Proper treatment provided by the Critical Care Team and the Neurology Service allowed Dewey to heal eﬀectively at home with his family, and by working with the Rehabilitation Service, Dewey was able to make a full recovery. the michigan ve terinarian • spring 2016

2016 Michigan Veterinary Conference

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This year’s Michigan Veterinary Conference attracted over 1,400 attendees. In addition to the excellent educational program and outstanding exhibit area, attendees were treated to a variety of receptions, social events, and new CE venues. The MVMA Annual Meeting included informative presentations. Dr. Julie Cappel, Immediate Past President, spotlighted the “President’s Honor Roll” to recognize the hard work of MVMA supporters. Watch for information on the 2016 Michigan Veterinary Conference. You won’t want to miss it!

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thank you ! sponsors • • PLATINUM • Merial LTD • Zoetis • • GOLD • Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. • CareCredit • CEVA Animal Health • Merck Animal Health • 8

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SILVER

Cats Radioiodine Treatment Centers Dechra Veterinary Products Kinetic Tech Medtronic Nestlé Purina PetCare BRONZE

Animal Neurology, Rehab & ER Center

• • president Dr. Julie Cappel’s honor roll • • Dr. Sarah Abood, leadership on the Membership Development Committee • Dr. Cathy Anderson, leadership on the Legislative Advisory and Animal Welfare Committees • Dr. James Averill, leadership as our State Veterinarian • Dean John Baker, leadership at our College of Veterinary Medicine • Dr. Marcie Barber, leadership on the Animal Welfare Committee • Ms. Karlene Belyea, management of all aspects of the MVMA • Dr. Kim Buck, coordination of the small animal seminar series • Dr. Therese Burns, leadership on the Executive, Leadership, and Wellness Committees • Dr. Frank Carmona, leadership on the Power of Ten Leadership Academy • Dr. Ryan Carpenter, leadership on the Michigan Animal Health Foundation • Mr. George Carr, service in political and legislative arenas • Dr. Mike Chaddock, leadership at our college of veterinary medicine • Dr. Renee Coyer, coordination of the Upper Peninsula Miracle of Life • Dr. Bruce Cozzens, leadership on the Executive Committee • Dr. Adam Dorr, leadership on the Food Animal Practice Committee • Dr. Dave Durham, leadership in promoting MVMA to local VMAs • Ms. Sheri Fandel, coordination of MVMA operations and as a resource for members • Dr. Nancy Frank, leadership in representing Michigan in the AVMA HOD • Dr. Lynn Happel, leadership on the Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine • Ms. Kara Henrys, management of member beneﬁts and student programs • Ms. Jan Hodge, coordination of administrative services • Dr. Gail Hoholik, coordination of the Upper Peninsula Miracle of Life • Dr. Lana Kaiser, leadership on the Animal Welfare and Legislative Committees • Dr. Tari Kern, coordination of People, Pets & Vets • Dr. Joe Kline, leadership on the Public Health Committee • Dr. Larry Letsche, leadership on the MVMA CME initiative • Dr. Angela Lusty, leadership on the Power of Ten Leadership Academy • Dr. Pat O’Handley, leadership on the Ethics and Grievance Committee • Dr. Lori Penman, leadership on the Executive and Animal Welfare Committees • Dr. Don Ryker, leadership on the Equine Practice Committee • Dr. Kathy Smiler, leadership in representing Michigan in the AVMA HOD • Dr. Kevin Stachowiak, leadership on the Executive and Legislative Advisory Committees • Dr. Steve Steep, leadership in representing Michigan in the AVMA HOD • Dr. Mike Thome, leadership on the Leadership Development Committee • Dr. Hank Vaupel, leadership in the Michigan House of Representatives • the michigan ve terinarian • spring 2016

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Don’t Rush It: Poor Hires Cost Big Time. weat. Tears. Running a veterinary practice is no simple feat. Owners and managers keep the wheels turning, front desk staff keep clients happy, technicians are buzzing about to assist in many capacities and veterinarians must provide premier care while building a caring relationship. To put it mildly, teamwork is an essential element to any successful practice. To tackle this feat, you must have a “dream team,” and whereas that seems obvious, there are practices all over the nation who still hire mediocre staff. This isn’t through any real fault of the practice itself. There are many factors which go into human resources—and especially for practices with smaller budgets, some managers often think there just isn’t enough time to implement a thorough hiring process. Unfortunately, this often means subpar candidates receive offers from practices desperately needing help . . . they’ve hired “a body.” These practices aren’t alone. There are also those hires who slip through in a more substantial process. In fact, according to Development Dimensions International—a top HR management consultant firm— as many as 66% of hiring managers regret a hiring decision they’ve made. So the question is, if major businesses’ HR departments regret their new hire decisions, imagine how prolific “hiring regret” is for industries such as veterinary medicine—where often times there are barely enough people to run the operation, much less someone who is formally trained in

the michigan veterinarian • spring 2016

successful hiring practices. This isn’t to demonize small practices in the least. If anything, it should make many feel better, knowing that it can be extremely difficult to find the right people for the right positions, no matter the size of the business. The difficulty in hiring exists with even the most diligent preparation . . . but let’s dive deeper—what happens when the position you have to fill is unexpected?

Hiring on the Fly This is a very tough situation that most practice owners at one point or another have experienced firsthand. Whether a critical staff member quit unexpectedly or someone had to be let go, vacancies can pop up at any moment with little-to-no warning. What then? Harvard Business Review’s research has shown that around 80% of employee turnover is based on poor hiring decisions. What this immediately means when applied to veterinary practice operations is that making a quick decision only compounds your hiring issues. Perhaps it will offer you immediate short-term relief, but with all of the effort that goes into new hire essentials such as training, it is a net negative. In fact, there are several factors which contribute to this. Here are a few examples:

Losing Prospective New Clients This is one of the biggest areas in which a quick hire can really hurt your practice—and it goes far beyond simple mistakes. Lacking a solid personality ﬁt with jobs like front desk personnel or veterinary technicians can be catastrophic. These people are the front lines of the practice. They greet clients when they come through the door, they answer the phone, prepare charts, collect

MVMA Partners with DVMelite to Help Michigan Practices Grow & Thrive

essential information and a host of other tasks. Thus, they are also de facto salespeople for your practice. (Yes, we said the dirty word.) It’s a position where attitude matters significantly. Attitude can make or break a prospective new client’s view of your practice—turning them off forever. The lost revenue over that client’s lifetime would have been thousands of dollars. In some cases, that’s thousands of dollars that disappear from your practice’s finances with every phone call that goes poorly that day. One poorly hired person can end up turning off half a dozen prospective new clients before lunch . . . potentially costing the practice more than that staff member’s entire year salary. The tough part is that personality is one of the most difficult things to screen. It requires different people interviewing a candidate for a fairly decent amount of time. This way, you can determine whether or not the candidate’s demeanor is consistent across the board. But the most common reason for not doing this is many practice owners or managers might consider not having the time. This perception is often a very expensive one and can cost a practice dearly.

Losing Your Best People One of the biggest consequences of hiring an underperforming individual is how that person will affect your best employees. Whereas a mediocre staff member will hang around most any reliable job indefinitely, the truly driven and exceptional employees will leave. Your best and most motivated employees truly thrive around other motivated, driven people. But in a situation where they’re teamed up with employees who are subpar, unenthusiastic, or even

MVMA and DVMelite are proud to announce a new partnership to give members the rare opportunity to learn about the most cutting-edge strategies and tools which will enable them to maximize their success in the field. DVMelite will be offering a series of webinars, invitational dinners, article contributions and educational seminars throughout the year which will help members to significantly increase their education and awareness of modern veterinary marketing techniques. This partnership is the fruit of several industry professionals’ intent on providing high-level, proven advice to practice owners on generating new clients, increasing revenues and profitability – and ensuring that those three key levers of growth are developed strategically for long-term sustainability. Whereas many companies offer more general guidance in regards to digital marketing, DVMelite constitutes a “one-stop-shop” service created just for veterinary practice owners. Combining the vast experience of its elite Practice Growth Specialists and supplemented with a “Done-for-You” experience for digital marketing, DVMelite allows practice owners everywhere to re-focus their precious time back on running the business. They provide the veterinary industry with the Practice Growth Academy, as well as the end-to-end guaranteed growth platform—the “Ultimate Practice Growth System.” In addition, they offer in-depth staffing solutions through their “Dream Team Builder” program which is specific to the concerns and issues experienced within hiring at veterinary practices.

middle-of-the-road, they will almost always feel like they are picking up for other people’s slack. This will usually result in a departure— and, at times, a speedy one. Then, the practice will again be stuck with a shortage and have to spend even more time having to hire someone else in a hurry. All the work those motivated and driven employees always did will disappear and the staff will be stuck with a full team of mediocre members. The costs here are vast and they compound with time. Overall, it’s estimated a bad hire can cost upwards of one to five times the person’s salary. As the importance of the person increases, so does their opportunity to influence more and more of the practice and clientele.

Options and Solutions Realistically speaking, the best and most solid option is to always keep a book of

résumés. Always accept résumés and applications, whether or not you are hiring. Only keep the résumés that pass muster, but keep them nonetheless. Then, when an opening occurs, start calling candidates from this collection. In addition, make sure that multiple people conduct in-depth interviews for each candidate. Get the interviewers to trade notes once they’re complete and check for inconsistencies. Have a diehard “best client” that could assist you? Ask them to meet your ﬁnal candidate(s) to give you added peace of mind! Finally, the most important item to remember is owners/practice managers must take his or her time to do it right in the beginning. In conclusion, the dedicated time taken to ensure the right ﬁt will provide an invaluable return on investment time and time again. —The Consultant Team at DVMelite

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A Tale a of Two Ferrets

Tamara Moin President, MSU·CVM Class of 2018

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bout three months ago, my dog of 11 years died. And so I did what any animal lover does when caught in the teeth of grief and sorrow: I landed myself more animals. Two lovely, horrible, naughty, wonderful male ferrets, called Dragon and Mushu. Why ferrets? I haven’t the faintest idea, but I’ve since come to realize that you have to really love these mischievous little creatures to endure the learning curve, for it is significant. Having ferrets is like living with naughty little pixies. Toddler pixies. Highly caffeinated, sugar-buzzed toddler pixies that never stop moving. Ever. Even when they are sleeping. To be fair, I knew this going into it. I’d never had ferrets before, so I talked to as many different people as I could . . . Vets. Pet store owners. Ferret rescues. I learned about the ideal ferret diet, predisposing health issues, the kind of space they need, what behavioral issues we’ll need to work through, and so on. It turns out, there are some things you cannot explain, and no one can prepare you for. You have to live it to understand it. Which brings us to Day One. Day One was shiny and new, exciting, like Christmas morning. I was all, “Oh, look at the cute little ferrets! Look at them, Aidan . . . Aren’t they so cute?? Aww, I want to

squish them and love them and—ouch! That kinda hurt. Careful there, mate . . . I know you don’t mean to—ouch! Darn, that smarts! I think it’s bleeding . . . Is it bleeding? Oh, yes, definitely—no, hand me a towel, will you? Oh wow, he just bit straight through my finger.” And I began to convince myself that the poor ferrets were stressed, new situation and all, and they just needed a few days to settle in . . . That was a lie. In the days that followed, there was more blood. All of it was mine. And that led to the advent of . . . The Ferret Chronicles. The drama, the suspense, the chilling horror—all of it here in one sweeping saga . . . Where did we leave off ? Ah yes, Day 2 . . . Actually, days 2–10, because they were basically the same, one day droning into the other. It went like this: Poo. Everywhere. All of it theirs. I shake my head, laughing to (or at) myself . . . The road to hell is paved with good intentions. And poo. Day 11: We are not discussing Day 11. Day 12: Ferrets have found a hole under my cabinets. I’m so grateful that they have pointed this out to me. Without them, I’d never have known that this entire secret world even existed. Naturally they could get in, but somehow their chubby behinds

1 couldn’t get out. Some ripped up wood and nd two traumatized ferrets later, order has been temporarily restored. My kitchen is another her matter entirely, but I remain hopeful thatt relations between me and the ferrets willl improve. Day 13: They have chewed. A hole. In my couch. Theyhavechewedaholeinmycouch. I am starting to sound rather shrill. Day 14: They have found a way to do some sort of ceremonial dance in their feces. ces. It has been smashed just so into the corner er of their cage, the same corner in which I had placed a litter box (naturally, they have moved it out of the way to poo behind it). I am not familiar with this custom, but I sense that understanding it will help me become a better ambassador to ferrets everywhere. We now turn to pictorials, because words just don’t do their actions justice. Scroll through . . . the saga continues. There was Day 15: They found their treats. This happened (photo 1). Then, Day 17: The ferrets heard a rumor I was sick of their poo. And so they brought me the toilet plunger (photo 2). Day 18: I have forgiven them for days 1–17. And, we have had a breakthrough. We understand each other just a little bit better now. Less of their poo, much less of my blood, and my expectations have certainly been modified. I prefer to call it a mutual respect. In an effort to document our newfound friendship, decided to take some pictures (photos 3 and 4). The truth is, the ferrets have it all figured out. They bite, they poo wherever they see fit, and they don’t seem to care what anyone thinks. In fact, nothing could be further from their tiny little brains than what I think or feel. And I love them anyway. They have made me laugh so much in the last few months. They demonstrate the importance of playing hard, how to find a sense of humor on a bad day, and above all, the value of surrounding yourself with people who love you just as you are. And of course, it’s so much easier to pretend you’re a magical wizard when you live with two naughty little pixies (photo 5).

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GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES

How to Work with Millennials gen·er·a·tion A group of people born during a certain time period. People in a generation share similar experiences growing up, and their values and attitudes, particularly about work-related topics, tend to be similar, based on those shared experiences.

hen it comes to attracting young people to veterinary positions, practices have got their work cut out for them. As of 2015, the Millennial generation is now the largest portion of the U.S. workforce. These younger people view the world very diﬀerently than their older counterparts. Millennials value work/ life integration, are multi-taskers used to instant information, question everything, seek input from everyone through social online networks, leave work when tasks are completed, and will demonstrate respect only after being treated with it. Millennials are busy, and they are focused on working smarter, not harder. Unlike Boomers, work ethic to them does to equate to the number of hours worked. They are fast-paced and don’t want to waste time. Does this sound like your practice? Maybe not. In the majority of practices today, Baby Boomers and Generation Xers dominate work culture preferences. Do you know what are the biggest complaints are from Millennials in the workplace?

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“You don’t value my ideas.” “You tolerate low performance.” “ROI is not enough for me.” “I need to be surrounded by people ‘on ﬁre’ for what they are doing.” “I need a manager/mentor who thinks diﬀerently.” “It’s OK to get personal—I need to know you care.” the michigan veterinarian • spring 2016

Millennials want you to know that they are creative, motivated, free thinkers who just want to be happy. They were raised to believe they could change the world and they are desperate for you to show them that their work matters. Praise overload has affected them and it’s not their fault that they received a ribbon for everything, had parents that paved the way making everything easy for them, and weren’t allowed to fail. So . . . What do Millennials need? They need a different work/practice model that allows for more flexibility. Having a written job description also helps them focus on responsibilities and expectations. Feeling like their work is making a difference is critical for them. They also need to have appropriate technology and equipment or at least see some movement in that direction. If your practice is going to thrive in this environment, things probably need to change. Do you know what the average attention span is of a Millennial? 7 seconds. Millennials have been trained to digest a great deal of information but volume must be condensed. With platforms like Twitter that limit the character count, Millennials are used to getting information quickly and to the point. They are easily bored. So, what must employers do?

Adapt and change. Oﬀer what they need or someone else will.

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Show them that their work matters, every single day. Give them freedom and a voice. Let them choose their own work schedules (to the extent that you can). Treat them like adults. Start conversations with them. Mentor them.

You can build relationships with Millennials by asking open-ended questions and actively listening, using empathetic statements, paying attention to nonverbal cues, doing what you say you’re going to do, and saying thank you often. I recently presented at the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference on working with millennials and held round table discussions on how to engage young associates and attract young clients. The following are suggestions that came out of those multigenerational discussions with veterinarians from across the country. WHAT CAN I DO IN MY VETERINARY PRACTICE TO KEEP MY YOUNG ASSOCIATES FEELING VALUED AND ENGAGED? n

Be sure to praise them for at least one speciﬁc action daily. Have a “success jar” in your practice and share successes with all employees. Ask millennials their opinion and actively listen to their answers.

U.S. WORKFORCE BY GENERATION GENERATION

# IN WORKFORCE

BIRTH YEARS

AGE RANGE

Millennials

53.5 million

1981–1997

18–34

Generation Xers

52.7 million

1965–1980

35–50

Baby Boomers

44.6 million

1946–1964

51–69

3.7 million

1928–1945

70–87

Silents

Source: Pew Research Center

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Mentor them and show an interest in their lives. Take them to lunch to connect oneon-one. Find ways to recognize them when they do well or go above and beyond, even if it’s only bringing them a coffee from your local coffee shop. Ask millennials, “What would you do with this case?” Change practice hours to allow for more flexibility. Consider job sharing. Divide up on call hours fairly. Create an app at the practice allowing team members to text clients for follow-up. Wear wireless radios/earpieces so you have constant access to people within the practice. Do not completely limit cell phone use at work; allow some time for use of cell phones. Give the younger generation an opportunity to help make practice decisions. Be willing to change the business model to serve the needs of the younger generation, i.e., one week on, one week off. Try Google hangouts to communicate and check in with each other. Provide an opportunity to have “giveand-take” communication. Don’t look at yourself as the “boss.” Balance the millennials’ needs with owners’ needs, specifically looking at schedules and vacations. Be open to medication and equipment requests. Give them paid continuing education. Provide good mentorship. Provide transparency with the business and finances. Nominate your millennials for awards. Include them in meetings. Provide flexible schedules when possible. Engage employees outside the clinic. Build them up within their skill set. Acknowledge their contributions.

WHAT CAN I DO IN MY VETERINARY

A REFRESHER ON THE GENERATIONS

PRACTICE TO ATTRACT YOUNGER

THE SILENT GENERATION (MATURES) 1925–45

CLIENTS?

Duty, honor, country, dedication and sacriﬁce, unity,

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Make sure your website is mobilefriendly. Use photos and emojis to appeal to millennials. Keep copy short. Ask clients how they want to be contacted and then contact them that way. Be sure to include texting as an option. Be active on social media and let your clients know about it. Create an app and make sure it can handle appointments. Keep your equipment up-to-date (as much as you can, given ﬁnancial constraints).

national pride n

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BOOMERS (1946–64) Work ethic, live to work, deﬁned by job n

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It’s critical to engage Millennials in your practice now. You need them involved to help move your practice forward. Try your best to embrace generational diﬀerences with humor and tolerance so that you can create a dynamic and positive team. Remember that experienced individuals beneﬁt from the new ideas and contributions of the younger generations. Younger people also learn from the wisdom and experience of older generations that are willing to mentor and openly communicate with them. –Karlene Belyea, MBA,CEO, MVMA

Strong military connection. Duty before pleasure. Dedicated to a job. Delayed gratiﬁcation and reluctant to challenge the system. Respectful of authority, even if frustrated. Honor and integrity are critical. Resistant to change.

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Live to work. “Pay your dues.” Work ethic = hours spent on job. Optimistic. Willing to go into debt. Generation size = inﬂuence on government and products. Team-oriented. Nostalgic about their youth. Want convenience/personal gratiﬁcation. Love face time/meetings. Ambivalent toward technology.

GEN X (1965–80) Self reliant, skeptical, work to live not live to work, ease in technology, loyal to boss not the company, nontraditional family units, latchkey kids n n n n n n n

Work to live. Work smarter not harder. “Let me grow and I’ll stay.” Contribution to the “whole.” Resume building. Very, very, very independent. Cautious, cynical and conservative. Lead from afar and don’t like meetings.

MILLENNIALS/GEN Y (1981-2000) Multi-taskers, want to be “famous,” instant gratiﬁcation, Do you need assistance

sense of entitlement, technologically sophisticated, tech

creating a positive and

dependent, “helicopter parents”

productive team in your practice? MVMA

can help! Karlene can train your team in

DiSC behavioral differences, generational

differences, body language, conﬂict

management, work/life integration, and the happiness advantage. Contact her at

Belyea@michvma.org or visit her website at www.karlenebelyea.com.

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Live in the moment. Leave work when tasks are completed. Early adopters of technology. Like connecting; seek input from everyone. Will demonstrate respect only after treated with it. Astoundingly diverse demographically. Question everything. the michigan ve terinarian • spring 2016

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM GLOBAL PAYMENTS DIRECT

EMV is the future . . . and the future is here now!

MV is named for the three card companies that created it: Europay, MasterCard, and Visa. It is a tiny chip embedded in payment cards that is virtually impossible to counterfeit and oﬀers much stronger security features than American magnetic stripe cards. As EMV-enabled credit card usage grows in the United States, Global Payments is here to help small businesses (large ones, too) make the crucial transition toward acceptance of the EMV (chip) cards. So, why EMV? Presently EMV chips are embedded in more than two billion payment cards worldwide—the vast majority of them outside the United States. The reason these cards are the future is simple: They dramatically reduce card fraud. Although the technology is still not widely known in the United States, the beneﬁts of EMV are too strong to overlook for long. Here are some startling statistics:

Although the U.S. accounts for only a quarter of the world’s payment card transactions, more than half of all fraudulent card transactions happen here. Losses due to card fraud in this country are expected to top over $10 billion in 2015. Credit card fraud rates have doubled in recent years, representing 10 cents out of every $100 transacted.

the michigan veterinarian • spring 2016

Fraud in the United Kingdom dropped 27% between 2007 and 2012, the years when EMV cards became widely accepted there.

EMV is more secure because the buyer inserts the card into an EMV reader or taps it on a contactless sales terminal to make a transaction. There is no hand oﬀ of a card number to the merchant and no swipe. The EMV technology makes it virtually impossible for thieves to duplicate cards, thereby reducing card fraud at the point-of-sale. Only EMV-enabled terminals can read and decode the card. If a consumer uses an EMV chip card with a merchant who doesn’t have an EMV-compliant terminal and the transaction is found to be fraudulent, the liability for any charges will now most likely become the merchant’s responsibility. According to market research, more than half of small business owners

have little or no knowledge of EMV—or this liability shift that took eﬀect 10/1/2015. By converting to EMV, merchants can eliminate any exposure or losses to card fraud for cardpresent transactions at their business. EMV oﬀers a choice: Merchants can either eliminate risk by upgrading their systems, or do nothing and simply live with the possibility of taking a major hit due to card fraud sometime down the road. As consumers become more aware of EMV’s ability to keep their data safe, they will naturally gravitate towards it. And if a merchant isn’t ready to take an EMV payment, it will translate into lost business.

MVMA Partners with Global Payments Direct MVMA staff is constantly reviewing our long list of member benefits to make sure you’re getting quality service, cutting-edge technology, and competitive pricing. Recently we decided to switch our preferred payment processing services partner to Global Payments Direct. After reviewing Global Payments Direct and the services it offers, we are confident they have solutions that will provide great service and competitive rates. Global Payments is a leading worldwide provider of payment technology services that delivers innovative solutions to their customers. They understand the healthcare industry and that providing optimal patient care is the most important thing you do all day. Let them help you find a payment processing solution that not only fits your specific needs, but also provides solutions to your payment processing needs with efficiency and a great rate that allows a solid return on every dollar spent. Contact Global Payments Direct at (800) 547-9394 and identify yourself as an MVMA member for benefit information on great check and credit card processing options for your practice.

mvma great lakes veterinary conference

July 17–19, 2016

Mackinac Island, MI

don’t miss it!

We’ve added a third track of CE and more fun events! Toxicology, Tina Wisner, DVM, DABVT, DABT Dentistry, James Moore, DVM Practice Management, Karyn Gavzer, MBA, CVPM Reception on Grand Hotel Porch and Private Dinner Sunset Party at Fort Mackinac You won’t want to miss this year’s Summer Conference! Watch for the full brochure with complete details in April. the michigan ve terinarian • spring 2016

What to Do When a Client Fails to Pay or Files for Bankruptcy

ou provided the best veterinary services. You may have even done so on an emergency basis. The client asked that you send a bill for your services rather than paying on the day services were provided. You comply and send an invoice. You don’t receive payment. You send another invoice. You or your oﬃce administrator contact the client by telephone. The client claims he or she will pay. It’s now 30, 60, and then 90 days later, and still you receive no payment. What do you do? There are relatively simple steps you can take to collect the debt without having to hire an attorney. WRITE A DEMAND LETTER

If contacting the client in writing and in person has reached a dead end, send a ﬁnal demand letter to the client. Be polite, professional, and only address what is owed. Reference the invoices sent, the personal contacts made, any communications made by the client admitting he or she owes what is due, and the amount due. Inform the client of the date payment must be received to avoid legal consequences. Keep a copy of the letter you send and any correspondence you may have received from the client. FILE A CLAIM IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT

If the amount of the debt is $5,500 or less, consider pursuing a legal claim in small claims court. You do not need an attorney to file a claim in small claims court. In fact, an attorney cannot represent either party in a small claims court matter. All the information and forms you need to file in small claims court are available on line. Go to the Michigan Courts website at http://courts.mi.gov/self-help/center/ casetype/pages/smallclaimssh.aspx. The instructions are easy to follow. Complete an Affidavit and Claim form (available on the court website), sign the Affidavit in front of a notary public or in front of a clerk at the small claims court, and file it with the court. You will be required to pay a small filing fee ranging between $25 and $65, depending upon the total amount you are seeking from the client. The on line instructions also include information

the michigan veterinarian • spring 2016

about how you prepare for the hearing. If the court ﬁnds in your favor, a money judgment will enter against the client (referred to as a “defendant” in the court proceeding). The court may ask the defendant if the amount can be paid immediately. If the defendant asserts he or she cannot pay it immediately, the court will determine the date on which it must be paid (normally 21 days or less). The court will most likely also ask whether the defendant is working and where, as well as the location of his or her bank accounts. This is extremely valuable information you will need to know if the defendant does not pay by the date ordered and you need to take legal action to collect the judgment. COLLECTING THE JUDGMENT

If the amount due is not paid by the date ordered by the court, you can easily take the next step to collect the money judgment. The most common and easiest method of collecting a money judgment is through a garnishment proceeding. A garnishment proceeding allows a creditor to collect money in satisfaction of a money judgment from the debtor’s wages, bank account, or income tax refunds. You do not need an attorney in a garnishment proceeding. The instructions and forms are available on the same Michigan Courts website mentioned earlier. Click on “Garnishing Money” under the heading “How to Collect Your Money” and follow the step-by-step instructions.

There are two type of garnishments: periodic and non-periodic. Periodic garnishments are aimed at collecting money over time. If the defendant is employed and earns wages and the employer receives a periodic garnishment order, a portion of the wages earned must be paid towards the money judgment. The Michigan garnishment statutes were amended in September 2015 to provide that a garnishment of periodic payments remains in eﬀect until the entire amount of the money judgment is paid. For example, if the defendant owes $1,000 and is paid weekly, $250 will be withheld and paid to the creditor. Federal law provides that a garnishment against wages must leave the debtor with 75% of disposable income (gross wages minus taxes and Social Security) or the minimum wage for a 30-hour work week, whichever is greater. The garnishment will continue in eﬀect for a four-week period until the money judgment is paid in full. A non-periodic garnishment is a one-time attachment of money. If the garnishment does not satisfy the full amount of the money judgment, another garnishment order can be obtained. Nonperiodic garnishments are usually used to attach funds in a bank account. BANKRUPTCY

Whether you have simply invoiced the client, sent a demand letter and not yet commenced a small claims action, or you have a money judgment and you are in the process of trying to collect what is owed, a bankruptcy notice will require you to immediately stop all collection activities. If you have already ﬁled the small claims action or the garnishment proceeding, the court will issue an order ceasing all further legal actions. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy (available to both individuals and businesses) is a

Legislative Update complete liquidation of the debts. A creditor may be able to collect a portion of the debtor’s available assets. In a Chapter 11 bankruptcy (used primarily by corporations) or Chapter 13 (used by individuals or sole proprietors), the debtor’s goal is reorganization. In those cases, a known creditor will receive a bankruptcy filing notice with a deadline to file a proof of claim with the bankruptcy court. Failure to file a claim will preclude the creditor from ever getting paid. Once a claim is filed, you will simply need to wait to learn what percentage, if any, of the debt owed will be paid. Getting paid at the time services are rendered should be a standard practice of every service-oriented business. If you find yourself extending credit, however, act swiftly in sending invoices and follow up with clients in person if they do not pay within 30 to 60 days. If the client fails to pay, consider using the legal proceedings available to collect debts owed to your business. If you receive a notice that the client has filed in bankruptcy court, stop all contact and determine whether you should take the time to file a claim or write it off as a business loss.

he turmoil surrounding the City of Flint water system continues to grow in Lansing. Nearly every aspect of state government is now impacted by the failure of the MDEQ to adequately regulate and protect the Flint water supply. While Flint water is an ongoing human health tragedy that will take years to address, the pending insolvency of the Detroit Public School System provides an additional and unfortunate layer of crisis in the Legislature. The early combined estimated cost to address both issues is approaching $2 billion. As a result, nearly every core public health regulatory program is facing some manner of review and analysis both from the Administration and the Legislature. Succinctly put, no one in state government wants to be responsible for the “next Flint.” In the meantime, the litigation, civil and criminal investigations and political grandstanding grow every day. The problem with lead in municipal drinking water is not limited to the City of Flint. Many Michigan cities with older homes built before the 1950s still have lead water service pipes like those in Flint. Many Lansing homes, in sight of the MDEQ offices and the Capitol Building, still have lead water pipes in service. While all the turmoil and finger pointing continues, many businesses and institutions in Flint are taking steps to assure the public that their water is safe. Many restaurants, Kettering University and businesses have publicly challenged the perception that all Flint water is contaminated. Flint customers on modern, non-lead water service lines are generally safe. For those water customers who have been contaminated, the solutions are not quick and the health monitoring for almost 8,000 school children may take decades. The discussion of potential impact on pets is just beginning. The positive news is that the MVMA Continuing Medical Education package is progressing through the Legislature. Last year hb 4408 and hb 4999 both passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. On February 11, both were unanimously voted out of the Senate Agricultural Committee and are headed to the Senate floor. The following is a brief overview of the House Passed proposal: HB 4408

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Shirlee M. Bobryk is a partner at White Schneider PC in Okemos. She represents a variety of health professionals, including veterinarians, in licensing cases, general business matters, and employment law. MVMA partners with White Schneider PC to assist our members. If a member has a legal question, they first contact MVMA at mvma@ michvma.org or (517) 347-4710. If MVMA is unable to assist with the question, the member is referred to the law firm. Members receive free 15-minute telephone consultations as often as necessary. In addition, if a member decides to pursue legal action using the firm, they receive a 10% reduction on the attorneys’ customary billing rates.

Extends veterinarian and veterinary technician licenses from 2- to 3-year terms. Increases the CME hours to correspond with the extra year of licensure, effectively 15 hours per year for veterinarians and 5 hours for veterinary technicians. Both may take the required hours of CME any time in the new 3-year term. The CME requirement will take effect in 3 years to allow everyone time to comply. There are no mandates or specific CME subject matter in the package.

HB 4999 n

Clariﬁes the law to permit Michigan pharmacies to honor and ﬁll prescriptions from licensed out-of-state veterinarians under existing reciprocity provisions. Increases veterinarian and veterinary technician licensure fees beginning in 3 years to cover administrative costs of licensure. No fee increases will occur until the CME program is implemented. The new veterinarian fees will be $70 per year and veterinary technicians will be $20 per year when fully implemented. A special thanks needs to go out to Representative Hank Vaupel for all his work in quarterbacking this legislation through the House. George Carr, MVMA’s Lobbyist

the michigan ve terinarian • spring 2016

MVMA PODCAST hosted by Dr. Jenna Corbett

Details About the Buy-In Process You’ve decided you want to buy a practice, and even found ﬁnancing for the purchase—what about the other details of the buy-in process? What steps do you need to take and what can you expect along the way? Hiring an attorney, practice valuation—even evaluating the practice equipment —is discussed in this podcast.

the michigan veterinarian • spring 2016

T H E M I C H I G A N A N I M A L H E A LT H F O U N D AT I O N was created to provide assistance for educational and scientiﬁc studies designed to beneﬁt the health and welfare of companion animals, livestock, and wildlife. For over 30 years, MAHF has made a difference in the lives of animals.

For more information, please contact the MAHF at (517) 347-4710

www.MichAnimalHealthFoundation.com

be a member and save! A BENE LL THESE FITS FOR & MORE ONLY

ember, Dear MVMA M

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, and ive, passionate most progress e th of e on an is th e MVMA tions with mor rinary organiza a member as dedicated vete ng ui s. By contin er ad le n ia ar eas and great 2,200 veterin d with great id te ec nn co e ar of MVMA, you ill be inspired! people. You w at a person who istics show th at st ow e kn u Did yo of $10,000 mor es an average ak m n io at ci s all the joins an asso not? MVMA ha one who does an th them. As a ar ye r pe ow how to get kn e w t, n’ do e if w e’ll help. answers—and anytime and w us l ai em or ll e can ca have more tim member, you ms so that you le ob pr ur yo e We can solv ary posiin your life! current veterin ur yo ith w d ng to an Are you satisfie ople who belo that 72% of pe ow kn u red yo id m tion? D eir jobs co pa tisfied with th sa ry ve e ar n ng to associatio who don’t belo half of people an th er w fe s. ith ed w career ne lp with all your worth one? We can he rams that are ucational prog ed s er state off A th MVM ay across e d driving halfw an . m a. 5 er at te our conf getting up st attendees ra pa of % 95 d in advancing to attend—an portant moves im t os m e th ences as one of ine. their career. terinary Medic e Future of Ve th ed in jo ve You ha A member life as an MVM ur yo e ak m to p! We are here ur membershi rget to renew yo fo ’t on D . er si ea Warmly, , MBA Karlene Belyea Officer e Chief Executiv savings potential d en h ig h — $12,000

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brochures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35–$75 Free “Learn Before You Leap” brochures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35–$75 Free Rabies Protocol Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10 Long-term care insurance discount (1 person). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . approx. $150 Disability insurance (15% discount) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . approx. $175 Auto and homeowners insurance (10% discount) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50–$200 Veterinary Career Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25–$200+ Model Animal Hospital Personnel Policies Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,200+ Michigan Law for Veterinary Professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$100 Legislative representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . priceless Client referral services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . priceless MVMA “Members Only” access on the website. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . priceless Complaint resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . priceless total savings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,980-$11,790

0 the michigan ve terinarian • spring 2016

MVMA’s Animal Welfare Conference a Great Success!

VMA held an Animal Welfare Conference on November 23, 2015. The conference featured a wide variety of speakers and focused on how veterinarians work together with producers and others for humane treatment of animals at every stage of life. Topics included research animal welfare, using measures of cognition to determine calf welfare, bull welfare, a producers perspective on swine welfare, worldwide equine welfare, and live canine demonstrations from Refurbished Pets of Southeastern Michigan Correctional Companion Program and Michigan Humane Society. There were approximately 220 attendees at the event including DVMs, LVTs, industry representatives, farmers, producers, shelter

personnel, animal welfare enthusiasts, and members of the public. MVMA plans to hold another conference on November 21, 2016 and speakers will include: n n

Temple Grandin, PhD, Animal Scientist and Autism Activist Ed Pajor, PhD, Professor of Animal Welfare, University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Health Rachel Touroo, DVM, ASPCA, Director of Veterinary Forensics.

MVMA thanks Dr. Lana Kaiser and the Animal Welfare Committee for their work on the conference. Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming 2016 Animal Welfare Conference!

Honeybees Need Vets nterested In expanding your skill set? Already raising honeybees? Bees need all the help they can get. Find out ways you can help! You may soon be contacted by beekeepers looking for treatments for their bees. Historically, beekeepers purchased antibiotics over the counter, but that will change under the new regulations. With gfi 209 and 213, the FDA has changed antibiotic use in honeybees from OTC to veterinarian prescription only. This places honeybees under the care of veterinarians. We are putting together resources to help you learn about disease in these fascinating superorganisms. Contact us to get in on the ground ﬂoor so you can help beekeepers take care of their furry friends. If you are interested in receiving more information on the changes for bee health, or in training opportunities for bee care, please sign up at http://msu.us10.list-manage. com/subscribe?u=8c09b29da2eb657e99e529ba0&id=a378f585a1. For more information, contact Meghan Milbrath, PhD, MPH, at mpi@msu.edu, or Therese McCarthy, DVM, at treecc77@gmail.com.

the michigan veterinarian • spring 2016

Michigan Dairy Veterinarian Animal Care Program Resources

Don’t Forget to File Your Annual Controlled Substance Inventory

ichigan dairy veterinarians now have a new website to help them find FARM Animal Care Program resources. This site is being used to explain the FARM Animal Care Program and provide links to other available information. For resources and a copy of the FARM Animal Care Program, visit www.nationaldairyfarm.com. If you would like more information about the FARM Animal Care Program, MMPA has a short presentation you can receive by contacting Lindsay Green at lgreen@mimilk.com. For a more detailed discussion, see the article “The Veterinarian’s Role to Assist Dairy Producers to Complete their Animal Care Program” in the MVC 2016 proceedings or at the new website www.mivetanimalcare.org. The new site, www.mivetanimalcare.org, was developed to provide specific information needed to complete protocols, procedures, and SOPs. Some information is found in PDFs to be downloaded and printed. Most information is found in Word documents, which can be edited. The website is designed to follow the format of the FARM Animal Care Evaluation, which is the actual 70-question evaluation being used by the cooperative’s field representatives (MMPA, DFA, and Foremost) in Michigan. For example, the first question on the evaluation says: “Is there evidence of a VCPR?” On the website, will find that the first link says “1. VCPR”. If you click it, you will find the AABP guidelines for a VCPR, a VCPR in PDF form that you can download, and a VCPR in Word format that you can download and edit to your specific clinic needs. You may notice that the website is not complete and will continue to be updated. It was developed by Dr. Henry Reinart and myself, as an effort to compile and coordinate the Animal Care Program information for all dairy veterinarians. We not only invite you to visit our website but also to please share your data. You may participate in our project by emailing your protocols, procedures and SOPs in Word document form to data@mivetanimalcare.org. Our goal is to create a simple and coordinated Animal Care Program system in Michigan—a system to coordinate the efforts of veterinarians, producers and cooperatives. Here are the steps we recommend. First, all dairy farms should be provided a 3-ring binder with the title “Animal Care Program.” Second, follow the numbering system of the evaluation and website (i.e., 1. VCPR, 8. Milking Procedure, 19a. Vaccination Protocols, etc.). Finally, coordinate efforts with your dairy producers and the field representatives to supplement the Animal Care Program binders by including data (protocols, procedures, and SOPs) for all 70 questions. This will prepare the dairy producer to pass a Third Party Verification. Steve Edwards, DVM, DABVP (Dairy)

oard of Pharmacy Rule 338.3151 and 338.3152 and Michigan Statute MCL 333.7321 require veterinarians with a controlled substance license issued by the Board of Pharmacy to conduct an annual inventory of all controlled substances in Schedule 2–5 under their control. The inventory must be submitted to the state between April 1 and June 30. An inventory is required for each location where controlled substances are kept, beginning on the day the licensee ﬁrst engages in the practice. The annual inventory must be signed and dated by the licensee, with the licensee’s name, address, controlled substance permanent ID number, and DEA number. Schedule 2 drugs must be listed separately from all other drugs and exact counts must be made; it is also helpful to note whether the inventory was done at the open or close of business on that particular day. For substances listed in schedules 3, 4, and 5, the count or measure may be estimated, but if the container holds more than 1000 dosage units (pills, etc.), then an accurate count is required. Federal law requires a biannual inventory be taken and kept on the premises. Saving a copy of the annual state inventory will put the veterinarian in compliance with this requirement. Send the state inventory to: State of Michigan, Bureau of Professional Licensing, Health Investigation Division/Annual Inventory, 611 W. Ottawa Street, 1st Floor, P.O. Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909. For questions or additional information, call (517) 373-1737 or email mapsinfo@michigan.gov.

You Know about Michigan’s Animal Welfare Fund . . . but Do Your Clients?

ince 2010, the Animal Welfare Fund has provided significant funding to our state’s animal shelters. It is funded solely by Michigan taxpayers when filing their state returns, and distributed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development through a grant program. The Animal Welfare Fund has supported a wide variety of projects including providing funding to our state’s animal shelters for spay/ neuter programs, training, and to combat animal cruelty. It’s a good program but it can be more effective if more people know about it. That’s where you come in. Michigan veterinarians can help by providing materials in your clinic during tax season (January to April 15, 2016). Attorneys for Animals, a Michigan-based nonprofit and tax-exempt organization, will have materials especially tailored for veterinarians to download, post, print, display, and distribute. Let’s work together to help bring more dollars to Michigan’s Animal Welfare Fund! To participate, contact info@attorneysfor animals.org. the michigan ve terinarian • spring 2016

classiﬁed ads veterinarians wanted

classiﬁeds & relief vets

Meyer Veterinary Clinic in Cadillac, MI is seeking a F/T veterinarian in a busy, 3-doctor small-animal practice. Cadillac is located in NW lower Michigan and is known for its beautiful four-season vacation attractions, in the heart of the best of what northern Michigan has to offer. You would be working in a friendly environment with long-term employees. We are a full-service facility, including ultrasound, laser therapy, laser surgery, digital radiography, and paperless records. Please contact Allen Meyer, DVM at 231/775-4104, or at ameyervet@gmail.com. Seeking a P/T veterinarian for a southeastern MI animal shelter. Looking for a hard-working, compassionate veterinarian to perform daily medical rounds on shelter pets, first aid care, and administering vaccines. Please send résumé and any inquires to ericahawker@gmail.com. Garden City Veterinary Hospital seeks to welcome associate DVM to our companion animal practice. Essential qualifications: passionate about veterinary medicine, and able to deliver best quality diagnostics and treatment to pets with an attitude of compassion to the pet owner and sensitivity to their needs. Respond to respondvetad@ gmail.com. Banfield Pet Hospital of Roseville is seeking P/T and F/T veterinarians who are looking for the unique opportunity to practice the highest quality of medicine with state-of-the-art equipment, knowledgeable teams, and nationwide support. We are offering up to a $10K sign-on bonus. Apply online at Banfield.com/careers or email heidi.burkley@banfield.net. Banfield Pet Hospitals of Northville, Livonia, and Southfield are seeking P/T and F/T veterinarians who are looking for the unique opportunity to practice the highest quality of medicine with state-of-the-art equipment, knowledgeable teams, and nationwide support. We are offering up to a $10K sign-on bonus. Apply online at Banfield.com/careers or email heidi.burkley@banfield.net. Banfield Pet Hospitals of Brighton and Ann Arbor are seeking P/T and F/T veterinarians who are looking for the unique opportunity to practice the highest quality of medicine with state-of-the-art equipment, knowledgeable teams, and nationwide support. We are offering up to a $10K sign-on bonus (Brighton only). Apply online at Banfield.com/careers or email heidi.burkley@banfield.net. Banfield Pet Hospital of Saginaw is seeking P/T and F/T veterinarians who are looking for the unique opportunity to practice the highest quality of medicine with state-of-the-art equipment, knowledgeable teams, and nationwide support. We are offering up to a $10K sign-on bonus. Apply online at Banfield.com/careers or email heidi.burkley@banfield.net. Banfield Pet Hospital of Troy, Rochester Hills, and Rochester Hills West are seeking P/T and F/T veterinarians who are looking for the unique opportunity to practice the highest quality of medicine with state-of-the-art equipment, knowledgeable teams, and nationwide support. We are offering up

the michigan veterinarian • spring 2016

to a $10K sign-on bonus (RH and RHW only). Apply online at Banfield.com/careers or email heidi.burkley@banfield.net. Banfield Pet Hospitals of Okemos and Lansing are seeking P/T and F/T veterinarians who are looking for the unique opportunity to practice the highest quality of medicine with state-of-the-art equipment, knowledgeable teams, and nationwide support. Apply online at Banfield.com/ careers or email heidi.burkley@banfield.net. Banfield Pet Hospital of Traverse City is seeking P/T and F/T veterinarians who are looking for the unique opportunity to practice the highest quality of medicine with state-ofthe-art equipment, knowledgeable teams, and nationwide support. Apply online at Banfield.com/careers or email heidi.burkley@banfield.net. The Ogemaw Veterinary Clinic is looking for an enthusiastic, hard-working veterinarian to join our mixed-animal clinic in northern MI. We are a busy mixed-animal clinic that sees approximately 60% small animals and 40% large animals (almost all dairy/food animal). We have a modern pharmacy, digital radiography, Heska in-house laboratory, endoscopy, applanation tonometry, and other diagnostic and therapeutic tools. This unique job can be fit to the interests of the applicant. You can concentrate on small-animal medicine and surgery in a rural setting with only occasional large-animal calls. You can do a majority of large-animal herd health and medicine/surgery with a few small-animal appointments. Or, you can have a combination of both. We will fit the job to you. The salary and benefits are based on the experience of the applicant. We pay a competitive salary, provide health and disability insurance, paid vacation, continuing education stipend, uniform allowance (scrub tops and coveralls), 401(k), and association dues (MVMA, AVMA, AABP, etc.). NE Michigan offers many recreational activities: running, hiking, motorcycling, biking, boating, waterskiing, snowmobiling, camping, and others. Our clinic is 2 hours from Traverse City, 2½ hours from Spartan Stadium, and 3 hours from Detroit. Interested veterinarians should contact us at 989/685-3941 or email jlangendorfer@msn.com. F/T or P/T associate needed for our growing small-animal practice in Benzonia, 30 miles south of Traverse City. We want an involved, compassionate clinician who is focused on client education. Great area for outdoor sports! betsierivervet@gmail.com. Sheridan Animal Hospital is seeking a F/T associate mixedanimal veterinarian to join our fast-paced, rural practice. Some experience with large-animal medicine is required. New grads are welcome to apply and will receive mentoring until comfortable going solo. Located in rural mid-Michigan, this is a rapidly growing mixed-animal practice (80% small, 20% equine/livestock; no dairy) in a new 5,000SF facility built in the fall of 2013. Currently we have 2 full-time veterinarians, 11 wonderful, friendly support staff, and a family atmosphere. We offer a competitive salary with production bonuses, health, dental, life and ST/LT disability insurances, paid CE, license, and dues and subscriptions. Flexible scheduling for work/life balance. Surgery suite, CR radiography, therapy laser, ultrasound, heated livestock area, in-house labs, and mobile truck. After-hours emergency

duties are shared equally among doctors so associates are required to live within a 30-minute radius. There is a tech/assistant on-call at all times. We have a caring and supportive staff in a family environment and are looking for someone who enjoys people, a fast pace, and loves pets. Please see our website, find us on Facebook, or call one of our doctors, Sherry Teegardin, DVM, or Sandra Shindorf, DVM, at 989/291-3647, SheridanAnimalHospital.com, sherdiananimalhospitalinc@yahoo.com. Seeking F/T veterinarian for our small-animal practice located near beautiful Traverse City, MI. Emphasis on quality and affordability. Daytime only, Monday–Friday. Great benefits and wonderful support staff. Minimum 2 years’ experience needed. Email dr.karen@bayareapethospitals. com. 100% small-animal practice in small community 45 miles north of Lansing is searching for a third veterinarian. New graduates are welcome. Contact John E. Cresswell, DVM, jecresswell@live.com, or call evenings 989/763-0522. Veterinarian needed full- or part-time starting in April. Great clinic, great staff, great clients! Check us out at FlushingAnimalHospital.com. Call Scott Liggett, DVM at 810/659-1151 weekdays, or 810/407-0093 evenings/ weekends. Immediate openings for F/T and P/T associate veterinarians now available at our fast-paced, progressive, small-animal practice in Mason, MI. Patterson Veterinary Hospital has changed ownership and our goal is to offer a high standard of medical and surgical practice along with compassionate care for our patients and outstanding client service. Our hospital is fully equipped with digital medical records, in-house lab work, gas anesthesiology, K2 laser therapy, digital radiography, and doctor assistance with LVTs. No after-hours or emergency service required, flexible scheduling available, and competitive salary; CE and benefits offered. New graduates are welcome to apply. Please submit a résumé, cover letter and your availability to Patterson_mason@yahoo.com. P/T associate veterinarian needed for busy, well-established small-animal practice in Grand Rapids, MI. Our hospital is well-equipped including digital radiography, in-house lab testing, therapeutic laser, BP monitors, ECG, and more. All of our technicians are licensed and well trained. Competitive salary and benefit package, and future opportunity for pension contributions. Candidates need to possess solid medical and surgical skills and excellent client communication is a must. If you are interested in becoming part of our great team send résumés to deb@schmittsah.com. P/T small-animal veterinarian positions open in Charlotte and Cheboygan, MI. Please contact Robert Nelson, DVM, at dvmpractice@gmail.com or 231/290-0208 for details. Due to our rapid growth, Midland Animal Clinic of Midland, MI, is seeking a F/T associate veterinarian to join our team! We are a full-service, AAHA-certified, small-animal clinic, located in the Michigan Great Lakes Bay region. We provide a broad spectrum of diagnostic procedures through in-house testing and the use of external laboratories. The

facility includes a well-stocked small-animal pharmacy, in-hospital pet surgery suite, in-house ultrasound, dental suite with digital x-ray capabilities, a closely supervised hospitalization area, and weekend urgent care. For more information, visit Midlandanimalcl.com. Submit résumés to LRust@nvanet.com. Seeking F/T associate veterinarian. Great experienced staff with three LVTs. Computerized records, IDEXX in-house lab, radiography, ultrasound, laser, orthopedic equipment, VetPro 1000 dental equipment. Small-animal or mixedanimal position available. New grads considered, we’ll gladly mentor! Good benefits (liability, health insurance, SIMPLE IRA, paid CE, licensing fees, paid vacation, potential buy-in). Beautiful university town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (Hancock) with family-friendly, small town atmosphere. Four-season outdoor activities abound! Contact Karen at northlandvet@yahoo.com. Established since 1971, our small-animal Practice in Dowagiac, MI is seeking a F/T veterinarian. We are a fast-paced practice with a large diversity of interesting cases. We are looking for someone who is excited to practice best medicine with us, and bring his/her experiences and perspectives to our team. We love our small-town community of Dowagiac, while enjoying the short commutes to nearby larger cities such as Chicago, South Bend, and Kalamazoo. Our beautiful town is the summer “bedroom community” to many Chicago-area residents who enjoy our many nearby lakes. Please contact Eugene Wilson, DVM at eugwilson53@gmail.com for further information. We look forward to hearing from you! F/T or P/T associate for established, expanding small-animal hospital in Macomb, MI. High standards for patient/client relationships and quality medicine, LVTs/experienced support staff, family atmosphere, digital x-ray, ultrasound, paperless. Competitive salary/benefits packages. Please email résumé to creeksideah@sbcglobal.net. Established practice currently seeking a F/T veterinarian for an AAHA-accredited practice in Birmingham, MI. We are a well-equipped, busy practice. Experience is preferred; see our website GasowVet.com. Please send résumé to f.blaski@hotmail.com or fax to 248/644-6123. Seeking F/T mixed-animal veterinarian to join our 4-doctor team. New grads are welcome to apply and will be considered

for the position. Our practice is located in mid-Michigan and consists of 60% small animal, 30% dairy, and 10% equine, beef cattle, small ruminants, and exotics. On the small-animal side, our large support staff of 11, including 2 full-time LVTs, will assist with cases which range from yearly exams and vaccines to advanced orthopedic surgeries. Our small-animal facility includes 5 exam rooms, a surgery suite with 3 gas anesthetic machines and full parameter monitors, full digital radiography, ultrasound, in-house lab, tonopen, and Avimark computer software. Our dairy work involves providing herd health, most using ultrasound, to dairies that range from 50 to 1,000 milk cows, along with individual sick cow cases, and troubleshooting herd-wide reproductive and metabolic issues. We will also supply a fully stocked truck for farm call use. The practice does provide emergency services for both our large- and small-animal clients and these duties are split equally between all four veterinarians. Our clinic believes in the importance of mentoring and new grads will be provided with back-up when needed for both routine cases and emergencies. Benefits will include competitive salary, paid vacation, licensing, health insurance, and contribution to a retirement plan. Please send résumé to Dr. Jon Schwab at Arenac Bay Veterinary Services, 4366 M-61, Standish, MI 48658 or email to arenacbayvet@gmail.com. The Country Cat Hospital in Brighton, MI is seeking an associate veterinarian. This feline-only practice is a day practice; our 24-hour hospital just down the street provides full emergency and critical care needs of our patients’ afterhours. Full- or part-time position available. Check us out at 24-7Vet.net. Send résumé to Dr. Kristine Gerster at kgerster@comcast.net. F/T veterinarian desired for Medical Director position (associate position also available) for busy, progressive practice in metro Detroit area. Great opportunity to utilize/develop leadership skills and be very well compensated. Contact Jeff Rothstein, DVM, MBA, at 734/645-0267, email jknis@ sbcglobal.net or fax 734/372-6318. F/T or P/T associate veterinarian needed for a multi-location, progressive, client/patient-centered practice in southeast MI. Seeking a confident, energetic veterinarian with good surgical, diagnostic, and people skills. Send résumé and references to dan.monforton@gmail.com.

the michigan ve terinarian • spring 2016

Veterinarian needed for growing emergency practice. Excellent opportunity at a very busy AAHA-accredited emergency hospital located in Burton, MI. We are looking for a veterinarian to work on Saturday and Sunday. This could be a great way to supplement your income! We have a great staff and 3 doctors with outstanding medical knowledge. Our staff is knowledgeable and friendly. You can either get paid hourly or production-based. Our hospital has an isolation ward, Snyder unit, ultrasound, a doctors’ office and separate sleeping quarters, large surgery room, digital x-ray, and much more. Come and join our family and grow with us. Fax your résumé to 330/217-1201, or email your résumé to twogrs4@yahoo.com Attn: Dr. Grguric. Feel free to email any questions or concerns. Combine high-quality medicine, a stimulating career, and great quality of life! Banfield currently has F/T and P/T associate veterinarian openings in the metro Detroit area (Brighton, Chesterfield, Rochester Hills East, and Troy). Practice human-quality medicine with the latest technology and evidence-based medicine. Work with a caring, well-trained team. Grow your career in the direction that’s right for you with our medical allowance program and diverse career paths. Enhance your quality of life with our part-time or full-time schedules, competitive compensation, and great benefits package including 5 weeks paid-time off, health insurance, medical allowance, 401(k) and more. Ask about our sign-on bonus in select locations. Visit Banfield. com/careers to apply or contact heidi.burkley@banfield. net to learn more! Have you always wanted to practice in an exclusively feline clinic? We are looking for a P/T associate veterinarian, however may consider F/T and potential buyer for the perfect candidate. We are located in Grosse Pointe Woods, have a great support team, practice high-quality medicine, great clientele, and no after-hour emergencies. If you are enthusiastic about working exclusively with cats, send résumé to kittysdoctor@comcast.net. The Michigan Gaming Control Board is seeking applicants for P/T veterinarian positions to work at horse racing tracks located in the Detroit area for 2016. Contact Al Ernst, Horse Racing Section Manager, at 313/456-4130 or horseracing@ michigan.gov. Parkview Animal Hospital is seeking an associate. We are a progressive 8-doctor small-animal practice located north of Detroit in Warren, MI. We offer a competitive salary and benefits with no Sundays or after-hour emergencies. We have a comfortable, modern building with ultrasound, digital radiography, digital dental radiography, surgical lasers, and a well-equipped in-house lab. Our team is friendly, motivated, and wants to support you. Our practice is a past winner of the Detroit Free Press Best Veterinary Practice Award. For more information about our practice, please contact Dr. Stephen Albrecht by email at sjadvm@hotmail. com, or visit our website at ParkviewAnimalHospital.com. veterinary technicians wanted Seeking F/T LVT to supplement veterinary staff in a southeastern MI animal shelter. Hard working, compassionate, and motivated technician need to administer medications, assist veterinarian with medical care, and perform twice daily rounds of shelter pets. Please send résumé and any inquires to ericahawker@gmail.com.

the michigan veterinarian • spring 2016

Bellaire Animal Hospital is looking for an LVT with excellent communication skills. Put your enthusiasm for veterinary medicine, and your technical and organizational skills to work in a practice that focuses on providing high-quality care and customer service. Ideal candidate would be detailoriented, have the ability to multi-task, and possess good time management skills and a strong desire to provide compassionate care for pets and their owners. If you are interested in joining our team please forward a résumé and letter of interest to christywilsonbah@gmail.com. Please no telephone inquiries. Vet tech/vet assistant: Howard City Veterinary Services is looking for an experienced individual. Must have good client communication and be willing to learn receptionist position also. F/T and P/T available. Please contact us at howardcityveterinaryservices@yahoo.com. Busy veterinary hospital in Warren, MI has an opening for an LVT. Our ideal candidate would be highly motivated, energetic, and a team player. Must be proficient in all technical skills with a minimum of 2 years’ experience. We are looking for someone available 20–30 hours, including some evenings and Saturdays. We offer generous benefits in a family friendly atmosphere. If you are looking for a rewarding career that focuses on small-animal, avian, and exotic medicine, we might be the right fit for you! We are an AAHA-accredited hospital. Only LVTs will be considered. Please apply by sending your résumé and cover letter to Kathy@wwvhcares.com, or by fax 586/979-3442. Visit us on the web at WWVHCares.com. Veterinary technician: P/T, licensed, and experienced. Apply in person to 47330 Ten Mile Rd., Novi, MI 48374. Multi-doctor practice in the north Muskegon area seeking an experienced F/T or P/T LVT. This position requires exceptional customer service skills and technical abilities. Applicants must enjoy a fast-paced environment, working with others, and maintain a positive attitude. Some evening hours, Saturdays, and on-call shifts required. Benefits such as health insurance, 401(k), vacation time, and holiday pay are available to F/T employees. Please send résumé and references to emp@northside-vet.com by email, or drop off your information directly to our office location at 1416 W. Giles Rd., Muskegon, MI 49445. We are seeking LVTs to join our fast-paced, progressive, small -nimal practice in Mason, MI. Patterson Veterinary Hospital has changed ownership and our goal is to offer a high standard of medical and surgical practice along with compassionate care for our patients and outstanding client service. Our hospital is fully equipped with digital medical records, in-house lab work, gas anesthesiology, K2 laser therapy, and digital radiography. We need our techs to assist doctors with gas anesthesia, dentistry, diagnostic and treatment procedures, as well as patient intake and assistance in the exam room. Experience with digital medical records, including Cornerstone, is a plus. Please submit a résumé, cover letter, and your availability to Patterson_mason@yahoo.com. LVT wanted for progressive multi-doctor practice in Livonia, MI. We have a great staff and excellent clientele, competitive salary, benefits, continuing education, and flexible hours. Email or fax résumé to levanvet@levanvet.com, or 734/4647203, Attn: Nancy.

Parkview Animal Hospital, located in Warren, MI is seeking a P/T or F/T LVT. We offer competitive salary and benefits with no Sunday or after-hour emergencies. We have a comfortable, modern building with ultrasound, digital radiography, and a well-equipped in-house lab. We are looking for a compassionate, energetic, and good team player to join our team. Please contact Dr. Stephen Albrecht by email at sjadvm@hotmail.com or call 586/573-4760. Gasow Veterinary Hospital in Birmingham, MI is currently seeking 1 F/T or 2 P/T LVTs to join our practice. We are a well-equipped, busy hospital. Our ideal candidate would be experienced with good communication skills. We offer competitive pay with a nice benefit package. Please send résumé to f.blaski@hotmail.com or fax to 248/644-6123. practices & equipment for sale For sale! Healthy small animal practice in the steadily growing community of Bay City, MI. Bay City is a “go to” riverfront and Bay community that offers tons of interests and activities, outdoor and otherwise. Love the water? You’ll love Bay City! Google us! Bonus: Included is a 3BR newly remodeled home for residence or rental: 989/860-9337. Bay County, MI: Priced to sell! 2,500SF SA on ±0.33 acres. Two exam rooms. MI1. Western Upper Peninsula: Practice, home, ±40 acres! 1,500SF, 1,900SF home. MI2. Elmira, NY: Great business opportunity! 3,400SF SA w/RE. Two exam rooms. NY8. Cuyahoga County, OH: Solid practice! 2,700SF SA w/RE. Three exam rooms. OH1. PS Broker, Inc. 800/636-4740, PSBroker.com, info@psbroker.com. Are you ready to buy or sell your veterinary practice? I can help. Valuations, consultations, sales. Former owner of Westborn Animal Hospital in Dearborn, MI. 15 years of selling only veterinary practices—I can sell yours. Contact Dr. Fred Zydeck, Broker: fzydeck@aol.com, or 248/891-3934. Member, Veterinary Practice Sales Group. See display ad in this issue. Detroit SA practice grossing over $900K. Great cash flow. Free-standing building is beautiful with great visibility. Practice and real estate $1.1M. Contact Total Practice Solutions Group, Dr. Kurt Liljeberg, 800/380-6872, or kurt@ tpsgsales.com. NEW! South central MI SA practice grossing $3.2M with real estate. Well managed and very profitable. Contact Total Practice Solutions Group, Dr. Kurt Liljeberg, 800/380-6872, or kurt@tpsgsales.com. Northwest Detroit suburbs small-animal practice for sale grossing $650K. Beautiful facility, nicely equipped, and great curb appeal. Contact Total Practice Solutions Group, Dr. Kurt Liljeberg, 800/380-6872, or kurt@tpsgsales.com. NEW! Copper Country in the Upper Peninsula: Small-animal practice grossing almost $1M for sale. Hospital is well equipped. Practice price $500K and real estate $425K. Contact Total Practice Solutions Group, Dr. Kurt Liljeberg, 800/380-6872, or kurt@tpsgsales.com. When buying or selling a veterinary practice, rely on the expertise of the Total Practice Solutions Group. See our display ad this issue. Even if you plan to sell your practice yourself, contact Dr. Kurt Liljeberg for a free consultation. We would be happy to help. 800/380-6872 or kurt@ tpsgsales.com.

relief veterinarians Norman Bayne, DVM, MS, 248/506-1104. MSU 81. SA relief work in southeast MI. Will travel. Friendly, excellent client communications skills. norman@baynevet.com. Cari Bedore, DVM, 810/965-8350. MSU 99. SA relief and/ or part-time 1 hour from Flint. Enjoy working in a positive team atmosphere doing medicine and surgery. Kirsten Begin, DVM, 616/446-3154. MSU 09. SA relief in Grand Rapids and surrounding areas. Will travel. Friendly, excellent client communication. References. Completed rotating and surgical internships. kbegin4@gmail.com. Sharisse Berk, DVM, 248/851-0739. MSU 95. Available for SA relief or part-time work in southeast MI. Rhonda Bierl, DVM, 248/467-1987. MSU 00. SA/emergency relief within 1 hour of Pontiac. General medicine, soft-tissue surgery, ultrasound experience. houserrh@yahoo.com. Tama Cathers, DVM, 269/203-6800. NCSU 96. SA relief and part-time. SW Michigan, w/in approximately 1 hour of Kalamazoo. Calm, friendly, thorough, team player. Aimee Cochell, DVM, 616/558-4905. Ross 01. Available for SA relief in Grand Rapids area. Willing to travel. Good client communication skills. References. abcochell@ comcast.net. Kenneth Corino, DVM, 248/217-5235. MSU 94. SA relief work. SE MI, medicine and surgery. corinodvm@aol.com. Nichole Corner, DVM, 616/634-9777. MSU 99. SA relief work in Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo area. Excellent client communication skills. References available. haweslake@ charter.net. Jamie Craig, DVM, 248/330-8793. MSU 12. SA relief/PT in Oakland Co., surrounding areas. Skilled general practitioner, adaptable, enjoy fast-paced environments, maintains CE, excellent client services, record keeping. jamie.Craig12@ gmail.com. Jennifer M. Dec, DVM, 248/224-1990. MSU 04. Smallanimal general practice and emergency relief. Surgery, ultrasound, and excellent communication skills, drrockstarbc@gmail.com. Susan Drapek, DVM, CVA, 517/663-0428. MSU 90. Available within two hours of Lansing. Relief experience since 1997. Small-animal medicine, surgery, and acupuncture. smdrapekdvm@sbcglobal.net. Jill Duncan, DVM, 517/719-0780. MSU 09. SA and exotic relief in Lansing, Saginaw, and SE Michigan. High competency in soft-tissue surgery, ultrasound, and medicine. Friendly, detail-oriented, excellent client communication. References available. Jillianne11@yahoo.com. Emery Engers, DVM, 734/717-2608. SA relief or PT in Oakland County/SE Michigan, including Saturday and Sunday. Strong medical and surgical skills, dentistry. Friendly and compassionate, high-quality care. engersem@gmail.com. Marj Field, DVM, 734/658-4774. MSU 90. SA/exotic/emergency relief work in southeastern MI. Excellent client service, comfortable surgeon, high ACT, and able to multitask. Extended travel can be negotiated. marj.ﬁeld@me.com.

Edward Greene, DVM, 517/812-1540. MSU 59. SA relief. Competent medical/surgical skills. Cheerful interactions with your clients and staff. Your practice procedures adhered to. LuckyPetVet@comcast.net. Lisa Harris, DVM, 616/261-4743. MSU 89. Available for relief in Grand Rapids/Lakeshore area. Experienced SA medicine and surgery, avian, exotics. Friendly, good communicator. drllharris@gmail.com. Sharon Rose Henn, DVM, 616/723-4314. MSU 01. SA, Grand Rapids and western MI; may travel. 10+ years’ experience. Friendly, helpful, excellent client education, adaptable. Soft tissue surgery, dentistry. hennshar@hotmail.com. Sean D. Hughes, DVM, 517/552-0993; 734/674-7061. MSU 76. SE Michigan SA relief since 1999. Part-time. Prefer SE; will travel for right circumstances. HughesDVM@aol.com. Cindy Kalicki, DVM, 313/291-2466. MSU 94. Eight years full-time, two years relief in SA general medicine/soft tissue surgery. SE MI, part-time or relief. Charlotte Kim, DVM, 517/643-4069. MSU 08. SA relief work in SE Michigan. Soft tissue surgery and medicine. Friendly and dependable. kimcharl0824@gmail.com Joan Koelzer, DVM, 616/437-6415. MSU 85. SA medicine and surgery, single-day relief, Grand Rapids/west MI. Skilled in difficult spay and neuters. jekoelzer@yahoo.com. Delta Leeper, DVM, 248/396-7525. MSU 03. Part-time or relief, SE Michigan. Cats and dogs only; medicine, dentistry, routine surgeries. Internship trained, good communicator, team player. catdrdelta@hotmail.com. Selena Lucas, DVM, 734/330-5048. KSU 90. Flexible and friendly, excellent client communication skills. Proficient in surgery, medicine, and dentistry. Available in SE Michigan. slucasdvm@gmail.com. Richard M. Mieczkowski, DVM, 734/735-2279. MSU 71. Relief, experience, competent, dependable, small-animal, references, north Oakland County and vicinity. rmackj@ aol.com. Denise Jorgensen Montagna, DVM, 231/557-1536. CSU 90. SA relief or P/T in western MI. Excellent client relations. References available. djmontagnadvm@ charter.net. Katherine O’Connor, DVM, 248/207-3528. MSU 14. Exceptional medicine when you need it most. SA/exotics/ emergency relief. Based in East Lansing, willing to travel. References available. MyReliefVet.com. Kris Parnell, DVM, 517/881-2845. MSU 91. Available for SA relief or part-time. Will travel 1 hour of Lansing area. References upon request. kparnelldvm@comcast.net. Christine Parker, DVM, 616/866-1965. MSU 88. Available for SA relief or short-term. Experienced and dependable. References available. Will travel. cparker@wmis.net. Patricia Partridge, DVM, 231/938-9338. MSU 70. SA relief, PT or FT. Former practice owner. Based in Traverse City and Big Rapids, willing to travel. petvet2@torchlake.com. Amy Peck, DVM, 231/557-4423. MSU 97. Available for relief in west MI/Grand Rapids/Lakeshore area. SA general medicine. Excellent communication skills, experienced and reliable. apeckdvm@gmail.com

Bob Schleiffarth, DVM, 269/921-0570. SA relief. Over 30 years’ ownership experience. Coverage for western MI, based in Onekama. Kawnipi2@att.net. Teri Sexton, DVM, 517/231-1256 cell; 517/371-2930 home. MSU 92. SA/PT work w/in 1 hour of Lansing. Can make your clients and staff feel at ease. Strengths: dermatology, soft tissue surgery. TeriLSexton@earthlink.net. Jim Sharp, DVM, 810/533-3598. MSU 71. SA relief, SE Michigan. Former practice owner. Proficient in sophisticated dentistry and medicine. Excellent communicator. vetseanarian@comcast.net. Alan Sibinic, DVM, 734/922-3713, 231/547-6212. MSU 75. Relief or part-time anywhere in MI. Flexible, wide-variety practice experience. 5+ years relief work. References. SA/EQ/FA. Margaret Sudekum, DVM, 616/676-2720 MSU 89. Available for part-time SA relief work in Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas. Good client communication skills. msdvm@sdkm.us. Alan Supp, DVM, 616/771-6030. MSU 90. Companion animal practitioner available Saturdays only, as-needed basis in the greater Grand Rapids area. Connie R. Sveller, DVM, 517/388-3434. MSU 85. SA relief work within 1 hour of East Lansing. Experienced/reliable/ former practice owner (16 years). docconnie1@aol.com. Andrea Switch, DVM, 248/302-2255. MSU 84. Available for part-time or relief work. SA general medicine/soft tissue surgery in SE MI. andreaswitch@yahoo.com. Kirsten Ura-Barton, DVM, 774/230-6878. MSU 97. Available for SA relief in SE Michigan within 1 hour of Pontiac. Experienced in both general and emergency practice with excellent communication skills. Résumé available upon request. kurabartondvm@gmail.com. Nicholas Urbanek, DVM, 412/606-1716. Glasgow 09. SA/ emergency relief and part-time work within 2 hours of Lansing. Internship trained, great client communication and records, compassionate. nup321@aol.com. Linda Vanassche, DVM, 517/896-9086. MSU 90. SA medicine, surgery and emergency; excelling in dermatology and internal med. Travel negotiable more than 1 ½ hours from Lansing. Excellent written/verbal communication and record keeping. drmomma789@aol.com. Jacqueline Walsh, DVM, 248/680-2461. MSU 89. Available for SA relief work in the greater Detroit area. Amy Wildrose, DVM, 517/420-5891. MSU 00. Experienced, proficient, dependable, and convivial. Available for SA relief or part-time. Based in Lansing. Willing to travel. a_wildrose@ hotmail.com. Georgia A. Wilson, DVM, 248/830-5325. 22 years’ experience, SA, pet exotics and emergencies, licensed. Available immediately for Oakland County and southeast MI. vxn8n@ aol.com. Jennifer Zablotny, DVM, 517/896-9146. MSU 97. Experienced SA relief for southeast and mid-MI. References available. drzablotny@gmail.com.

the michigan ve terinarian • spring 2016

michigan veterinary conference

mvma animal welfare conference

mvma board of directors

▸ January 27–29, 2017 Lansing Center & Radisson Hotel, Lansing, MI

▸ November 21, 2016 @ 8 am–5 pm MSU Pavilion, East Lansing, MI

▸ July 19, 2016 Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island

mvma equine practice ce programs

mvma great lakes veterinary conference

Tentative topic & speaker:

▸ July 17–19, 2016 Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI

▸ Respiratory (Dr. Jeremy Frederick) March 9, 2016

mvma small animal seminars ▸ Emergency & Critical Care (Dr. Melissa Holahan) March 9, 2016 ▸ Genetics (Dr. Danika Bannasch) October 5, 2016 ▸ Dental (Dr. Brook Niemiec) November 2, 2016 ▸ Feline Medicine (Dr. William Folger) December 7, 2016 ▸ Renal (Dr. Mark J. Acierno) March 8, 2017 Seminars 10:00 am–5:30 pm at the East Lansing Marriott. Contact MVMA at (517) 347-4710 or register online at www. michvma.org.

mvma/msu·cvm canine ultrasound lecture/wetlab

Tentative topics & speakers: • Toxicology (Dr. Tina Wisner) • Dentistry (Dr. James Moore) • Practice Management (Karyn Gavzer)

mvma committees ▸ Animal Welfare (Dr. Marcie Barber, Chair) April 21, 2016 @ 10:00 am June 16, 2016 @ 10:00 am September 29, 2016 @ 10:00 am ▸ Executive Committee (Dr. Kevin Stachowiak, Chair) June 22, 2016 @ noon August 31, 2016 @ noon November 30, 2016 @ noon

▸ September 14, 2016 University Club, Lansing ▸ December 14, 2016 University Club, Lansing

western michigan vma ▸ Veterinarian CE Seminars 3rd Thursday of each month, January–May and September–November @ 7:00 pm / Grand Rapids Contact Jeﬀ Johnson, DVM, (616) 837-8151, or jdandcj2008@ wildblue.net.

semvma veterinary ce program ▸ Endocrinology (Dr. Ann Della’Maggiorre) March 23, 2016 Visit the SEMVMA website at www.semvma.com for additional details.

▸ Legislative Advisory (Dr. Cathy Anderson, Chair) March 16, 2016 @ 10:00 am June 8, 2016 @ 1:30 pm September 28, 2016 @ 1:30 pm November 9, 2016 @ 1:30 pm

▸ June 18, 2016 MSU Veterinary Medical Center

▸ Public Health (Dr. Joe Kline, Chair) March 16, 2016 @ 1:30 pm June 15, 2016 @ 1:30 pm September 7, 2016 @ 1:30 pm December 21, 2016 @ 1:30 pm

people, pets & vets

Meetings held in the MVMA ofﬁce unless noted.

▸ Saturday, November 5, 2016 @ 11 am–3 pm Macomb Community College

due to the number of requests for ce announcements, the michigan veterinarian limits listings to ce programs in michigan.

the michigan veterinarian • spring 2016

the michigan ve terinarian â&#x20AC;˘ spring 2016

michigan veterinary medical association 2144 Commons Parkway, Okemos, MI 48864-3986 Professional excellence. Compassionate care.

IMPORTANT PH

ONE NUMBERS

rinary Medicine MI Board of Vete 18 09 5(517) 33 macy MI Board of Phar (517) 373-1737 ce DEA: Detroit ofﬁ 00 40 423 (313) DEA: toll-free (800) 230-6844 terinarian MDARD State Ve 39 39 229 (800) munity Health MI Dept. of Com 65 (517) 335-81 h Certiﬁcates State of MI Healt (517) 284-5767 –Accreditation USDA, APHIS, VS 00 (517) 337-47

Presort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Lansing, MI Permit #713